How is bipolar disorder treated?
Although bipolar disorder cannot be cured, its symptoms can and must be managed, because patients are at relatively high risk for suicide. Untreated bipolar disorder is associated with a shorter life expectancy compared with people who receive treatment. Untreated bipolar disorder tends to worsen with time, which emphasizes the need for appropriate intervention.
Because of the unique nature of bipolar disorder, with its recurring episodes extending over a lifetime, clinicians need to consider both acute and long-term treatment when managing these individuals. The goal of acute treatment is to end the current manic, hypomanic, depressive, or mixed episode. In contrast, long-term treatment is given to maintain the initial response and to prevent future relapse.
Recall that the length of the symptom-free interval tends to decrease as the patient gets older and the number of previous episodes increases. Each episode appears to contribute to a worsening of the long-term outcome. These findings support the long-term treatment of bipolar disorder.
Components of treatment include:
- medications — necessary for most people during both acute and preventive phases of treatment
- education — crucial in helping patients and families learn how to manage bipolar disorder and prevent its complications
- psychotherapy — helps patients and families affected by bipolar disorder deal with disturbing thoughts, feelings, and behavior in a constructive manner.
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